A Reexamination of Homogeneous Nucleation Theory

Two-dimensional colloidal systems in time-dependent magnetic fields

“…The underlying phase transition is a first order transition where phase equilibrium exists and the nucleation process has been intensely studied [42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]. The most widely used concept, the Classical Nucleation Theory (CNT), attempts to describe this complex process by treating the nuclei as compact spheres that grow if their size exceeds a critical value [42][43][44]. However, experiments on hard sphere colloidal systems [48,49,52] differ from the predictions of critical nucleation theory and the CNT calculation underestimates the nucleation rate by many orders of magnitude [57].…”

Virial/Fisher models of molecular cluster populations

“…That is, for large i, ⍜ should approach A 1 ␥ ϱ /(kT), where A 1 i 2/3 is the surface area of a spherical droplet containing i monomers at the bulk liquid density, and ␥ ϱ is the surface tension of a planar interface. In order that this should be consistent with the ⍜ chosen by Kiang et al 15 and Hamill et al, 16 i.e., with the low temperature equation of state, ⍜ has to be size dependent. Dillmann and Meier wrote…”

“…͑5͒ and showed that it was close to the value required by Fisher's analysis of critical exponents.͔ The next step was to use the model to study nucleation phenomena away from the critical point. This was carried out by Kiang et al 15 and later by Hamill et al 16 In these treatments, the parameter ⌰ was chosen such that the low temperature imperfect properties of the vapor were reproduced. This was equivalent to introducing a size independent microscopic surface energy and relating it to the low temperature second virial coefficient of the vapor.…”

Statistical physics in meteorology

“…In clouds, ice appears in a variety of forms, shapes, depending on the formation mechanism and the atmospheric conditions 22,51,67,68 . The cloud inner structure, content, temperature, life time, .. can be studied.…”